Max, how...organic. Very well designed and built. Just very, very cool. Saluti!

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Ideally, I'd want it to be metal, but don't have the access to that kind of machinery or material, let alone the knowledge or experience to make one. Wood suffices just fine. No flex, plenty sturdy, and lighter too. Thanks!

Ideally, I'd want it to be metal, but don't have the access to that kind of machinery or material, let alone the knowledge or experience to make one. Wood suffices just fine. No flex, plenty sturdy, and lighter too. Thanks!

Klippermate clamps are actually regarded as better than the X-2 clamps. They're a lot more durable and consistent because they are metal instead of the plastic x-2 ones. There have also been reports of sharp edges on the X-2 clamps, causing cuts. The klipper ones look uglier, but they get the job done better.

A good stringer can string on a six point just as fast as a 2 point. My star 5 never blocks grommets to the point where I have to take time to try to get the string in the grommet. Now sure some of the machines will occasionally block a grommet but it's not the end of the world when it happens. But it really all comes down to the posts when talking about the quality of the job. For example the posts on the Star 5 are rock solid and don't let the racquet move that much. What causes the tension difference is how far the posts pull toward each other during stringing. This will make the racquet wider causing the tension in the mains to become less (as much as 50% in some cases.)

which of these two machine would u recomend for me to get- the MP 690 or the alpha pioneer dc plus? is it worth it to put in the extra 70 + shipping for the dc plus?

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Here's the deal. With Alpha, I believe you get free string and spring assisted clamp bases, which are easier to use. They're more complicated and have a better chance of getting screwed up, but don't worry about that. There is a warranty.

Alpha's are built like a tank. (supposedly, I don't have experience with them)

They're Customer service is also praised. It all depends on what you want. Altogether, it's like $430 for the pioneer dc plus.

Here's the deal. With Alpha, I believe you get free string and spring assisted clamp bases, which are easier to use. They're more complicated and have a better chance of getting screwed up, but don't worry about that. There is a warranty.

Alpha's are built like a tank. (supposedly, I don't have experience with them)

They're Customer service is also praised. It all depends on what you want. Altogether, it's like $430 for the pioneer dc plus.

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This is very true!!!! Mark does a great job! Alpha is great when it comes to customer service. I have dealt with them in the past and I had a very pleasurable experience with them. I have since sold the Alpha machine but Mark was a very good help. Also with the spring assisted bases: as long as you don't over tighten them you will never have any problems. sure they will wear out and the ones on the Alpha machine that I had wore out. But after the machine was 8 years old and thousands of racquets strung. I upgraded to a Star 3 then a Star 5 shortly after.

Yeah it just depends on how much you want to spend. I only had about 500 to spend on a machine + strings, so I chose the cheaper machine because I wanted to get a lot of strings. If you've got the money, then by all means get the DC. And thanks for that tip about the reel holder, prostaff. I didn't think of that and I'll probably leave it out for now.

not sure about that, but the mounting on my prince is awsome, speed, and i feel its pleant supportive, and the staring clamps fits everywhere

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I'm not debating the effectiveness of the 2 vs 6. But I have strung countless sticks on both Prince 3000 and Star 5 and I can say that I can mount racquets on the Star 5 much faster.

I used to have an older Alpha machine with 6point and I felt like I could mount on that just as fast. yeah when the Prince is already adjusted you can mount the stick extremely fast. But I feel like when you go from a mid to an OS it can take longer than others. just my 2 cents.

I'm not debating the effectiveness of the 2 vs 6. But I have strung countless sticks on both Prince 3000 and Star 5 and I can say that I can mount racquets on the Star 5 much faster.

I used to have an older Alpha machine with 6point and I felt like I could mount on that just as fast. yeah when the Prince is already adjusted you can mount the stick extremely fast. But I feel like when you go from a mid to an OS it can take longer than others. just my 2 cents.

....Also with the spring assisted bases: as long as you don't over tighten them you will never have any problems. sure they will wear out and the ones on the Alpha machine that I had wore out....

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I understand cone lock bases are harder to lock. But are they less maintenance since they don't have the spring mechanism? Or do they have their own weak point that will ultimately wear out too? And do they hold as well as the spring assisted type?

I understand cone lock bases are harder to lock. But are they less maintenance since they don't have the spring mechanism? Or do they have their own weak point that will ultimately wear out too? And do they hold as well as the spring assisted type?

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The machine that I had that the springs broke on was old! I mean 10 thousand racquets. (not all by me!!!! I got it well used...I put around 5-6 hundred before it broke.) So this goes to show that if you are careful they will last for as long as your machine does. But as far as I know...I don't know much;-)...anytime that you eliminate parts the less chance you run of something going wrong. But even when the spring goes bad you can still string. The clamps still work the same you just have to make sure the clamps don't lock up while sliding them. Not really a big deal once you get used to it. I mean they both do the same job and how much more do the springs cost? I personally have never had a machine without the springs (I did own a Klippermate but I don't count that) so I really don't know what the operation is like on the cone lock bases.

I can have a racquet mounted on my Star 5 in around 10sec ready for stringing. What if you misplace one of the clamp things that clamp the stick down on the 3000? Also I have never not been able to use a starting clamp on the Star 5. I mean the differences are not that much really...it is all a matter of preference. I prefer the 6point and you like the 2 point. I just know that in the old days the 2 points were inferior to the Babolat's and the others with the 6 point. Sure the finished job is the same but what I worry about with the 2point is that you lock down the frame. With the Babolat design it kind of cradles the frame. It just lets the racquet do it's thing and distributes the forces over more points. Sure some 6 points are crap! The same can be said about most 2 points. I just think if you don't consider the Babolat, Prince, TF ect.. and only take into account the lower end machine you will find that 6 points perform better. Just my opinion...

If you look at the numbers on GSS that John has taken sure the frame distortion is the same but what are the effects of the forces on the frames integrity when being strung on the different set-ups? I have only had college physics but maybe someone with a better understanding could give us some input on the subject.

I understand cone lock bases are harder to lock. But are they less maintenance since they don't have the spring mechanism? Or do they have their own weak point that will ultimately wear out too? And do they hold as well as the spring assisted type?

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Depending on the machine, I've heard that it's just a little bit more effort to close them. Some machines, like the Gamma Progression II FC (I think that's the name) has the levers for the bases run into each other. It's a nuisance, but I think you can work around it.

could any of u guys tell me what not to use at the end of mains, and starting cross, and ending cross? i am still unsure. i keep looking on yulittles vidoes but am having trouble. i think i know how to knot them i just need to know which ones to use at the right spot

Finishing Knots- Knots that do not have tension directly applied to them. Used at the end of mains and crosses.Starting Knots- Knots that do have tension directly applied to them. Used to start crosses.

If you have a starting clamp you only need to know 1 finishing knot. If you do not you need to know 1 starting knot and 1 finishing knot.

I can have a racquet mounted on my Star 5 in around 10sec ready for stringing. What if you misplace one of the clamp things that clamp the stick down on the 3000? Also I have never not been able to use a starting clamp on the Star 5. I mean the differences are not that much really...it is all a matter of preference. I prefer the 6point and you like the 2 point. I just know that in the old days the 2 points were inferior to the Babolat's and the others with the 6 point. Sure the finished job is the same but what I worry about with the 2point is that you lock down the frame. With the Babolat design it kind of cradles the frame. It just lets the racquet do it's thing and distributes the forces over more points. Sure some 6 points are crap! The same can be said about most 2 points. I just think if you don't consider the Babolat, Prince, TF ect.. and only take into account the lower end machine you will find that 6 points perform better. Just my opinion...

If you look at the numbers on GSS that John has taken sure the frame distortion is the same but what are the effects of the forces on the frames integrity when being strung on the different set-ups? I have only had college physics but maybe someone with a better understanding could give us some input on the subject.

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we all have our opinion, but in the end, you give me a machine to use, and racket that needs to be strung, i will get it done with whatever you give me

Finishing Knots- Knots that do not have tension directly applied to them. Used at the end of mains and crosses.Starting Knots- Knots that do have tension directly applied to them. Used to start crosses.

If you have a starting clamp you only need to know 1 finishing knot. If you do not you need to know 1 starting knot and 1 finishing knot.

also, since there is more than one for a finish and starting knot, is there a certain one that u should use. i am thinking about using a parnell for finishing and a bulky knot for a starting. sound good?